Smiling Interview with LA-based Architect and Asset Manager Shirin Amin shaking hands with colleagues in office meeting, working together on corporate strategy, documents, contracts and successful teamwork.
Shirin Amin is a Los Angeles-based architect and project manager with over 20 years of experience in luxury real estate development and asset management. Her formal architectural training in North America, Europe, and the Middle East has provided her with a global perspective on design, planning, and development. Shirin is a general manager at Primex World Inc., where she contributes to large-scale residential developments, agricultural projects, and long-term investment management.
Her background includes the execution of luxury residential properties, including a landmark project that successfully sold for $44 million. She previously led her own design firm for over a decade, focusing on residential remodelling and architectural design. Beyond her professional work, she supports the arts through her involvement with the Fine Arts Council of the Farhang Foundation.
Outside of work, Shirin grows knowledge through self-development and coaching programs focused on personal growth and psychology. Her interests include architecture, philosophy, poetry, art, travelling, and fitness. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Michael Amin, and their children.
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Q: You studied the field of architecture in multiple countries. How did that impact your view of modern design?
Shirin Amin: There’s an expression in my native language that says the past gives life to the future. When I studied architecture in Iran and France, I was taught the basics of design and the origins of architecture. When I came to America, I went to the Southern California Institute of Architecture. The school had a strong focus on organic and experimental design, so I learned to work with diverse architectural styles.
I believe every line in a design should have a purpose, and I stand behind the choices I make. When I was in Iran and France, I always had the freedom to define my project. When I came to America, that education helped me become more confident in what I’m doing, what I’m creating, and what I’m fighting for. That experience gave me confidence in defending my ideas and design choices. I may not have been the best architect, but teachers appreciated my work. They always wanted me to work for them and to travel. I had a Japanese architect from Kyoto who wanted me to teach at the Kyoto architecture school, but I couldn’t go.
Q: What have you learned from running a design business?
Shirin Amin: I learned that I have to be very systematic. I have to create a task list, like an agenda for phase A, phase B, etc., and then follow that system. If you want to be successful in a design firm, you have to make quick decisions so you don’t delay the project. You have to be firm, consistent, and organized. Know psychology, business, communication, leadership, systems and endurance. That’s the key.
I found that my imagination can come up with millions of ideas. As a professional, you have to find one idea and follow it from point A to point B to point C, and so on, then finish it, instead of waking up every morning and changing it. Time matters. That was the most important thing I learned in the office.
Q: You transitioned from high-value real estate to family asset management. Could you tell us more about that experience?
Shirin Amin: Transitioning from luxury home development to asset management felt like a natural progression in my career. For over 20 years, I was heavily involved in my husband’s business, Primex World Inc., where we built luxury houses. I participated in every stage of development, from purchasing land and reviewing plans to contributing to major project decisions.
One project eventually became a home that sold for $44 million. Experiences like that taught me how important long-term planning, collaboration, and vision are in both development and asset management. I apply that same mindset to managing investments, agricultural projects, and family assets.
Q: Your professional background also includes agricultural projects and humanitarian work. How do these diverse experiences change your perspective?
Shirin Amin: My professional background has always been multidimensional. Alongside real estate and architecture, I’ve spent time learning about agricultural operations and investment expansion through various family projects. I’ve visited farms, met with project managers, and participated in discussions related to growth and long-term planning.
My experience working with Nader Khalili on low-income housing concepts in Hesperia, California, was also a big turning point in my career. That experience showed me that architecture can serve both practical and humanitarian purposes. Whether designing a luxury residence or contributing to affordable housing initiatives, I believe design can positively affect people’s lives.
Q: As you focus on self-development and new goals, what is your vision for this next stage of your professional identity?
Shirin Amin: I want to bring together architecture, real estate, art, and management in a way that represents my real experience and interests. While I am a mother and family asset manager, I identify first as an architect and an artist. I am a lifelong learner, currently taking courses in coaching and psychology to keep expanding my knowledge. I want this next chapter to reflect the creative freedom and confidence I’ve built over two decades in business, while experimenting in different disciplines.
